Half-Price Camping Has Been Extended in Victoria Until 2027

From the 1st of July, camping fees in Victoria will be half price for two years, with campers able to access 131 bookable campgrounds at reduced rates.

In an effort to encourage people to get outdoors, the Victorian State Government has invested a further $10.5 million plan to continue the previous initiative.

Half-price camping was first launched in 2019 under Victoria’s $105.6 million Great Outdoors initiative, which also funded upgrades and new facilities across 62 campgrounds in Victoria’s national parks and state forests.

Since then, the Victorian Government says that the half-price camping program has saved campers over $25 million in booking fees.

‘Since 2019, half price camping has made the great outdoors more accessible than ever for many Victorian families, and we’re delighted it will continue thanks to the support of this government’, said Lisa Patroni, Executive Director of Visitor Experience at Parks Victoria.

‘There are so many benefits’, says Lisa. ‘Not only does it help people create lasting memories, it also plays a vital role in supporting regional towns and local businesses.’

Half-price camping will continue for another two years | Photo by Ally Burnie

Free Camping v Half Price Camping

The announcement comes as a period of free camping in Victoria over the 24/25 summer and autumn nears its end. This initiative garnered backlash due to rubbish being dumped at campgrounds and its creation of a ghost booking problem during a period when regional areas rely on tourists, who locals claim didn’t turn up.

Melina Bath, Nationals member for East Victoria, told the ABC that some frustrated campers claimed campgrounds that were 100% booked out online were only 50% full, and that this was leading to a drop in visitors to regional areas.

‘Free camping has been a disaster on a number of levels…You’ve got local towns who’ve had a drop in patronage, a drop in sales’, Bath told the ABC.

Matt Ruchel, Executive Director of Victorian National Parks Association, hopes the half-price tag is a better compromise than completely free camping.

‘The fact that people are paying a fee means that they’re more likely to turn up’, he told the ABC.

A similar debate around ghost camping and fees is occurring across the border in NSW as the NSW state government seeks public feedback on a proposal to increase booking fees at campgrounds across the state in an effort to prevent ghost camping.

Listen Now: Why Outback Mike Wants to See the NSW Campground Booking System Removed

Photo by Lachie Thomas

When do bookings open?

Bookings will open at 10am (AEST) on Monday, 2nd of June 2025, for stays between 1st of July and 17th of December 2025. Releases will be staggered to manage demand. Visit the Parks Victoria camping bookings page for more details.

Feature image thanks to Henry Brydon